Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Buckeye, AZ
VS
Rochester, NY
🏆 Buckeye leads 15 of 23 categories
Buckeye
Arizona
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.0
Median Household Income
$94,188 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
44 ✓ Safer
Population
95,042
Rochester
New York
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$44,156
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High
Population
210,992 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Buckeye, AZ
Pros
Households earn $50,032 more per year on average
71% less violent crime than Rochester
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.5 pts lower (5.0%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (166.8 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 33°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $341,700
Higher rents — median is $1,597/mo
Longer commutes — 32.5 min average each way
Hot summers — July highs average 107°F
Rochester, NY
Pros
Homes cost $230k less ($111,400 vs $341,700)
Rent averages $602/mo less ($995 vs $1,597)
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 107°F
More college-educated — 29.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 10.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Buckeye by $50,032/yr
Violent crime (582.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3289.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.5% vs 5.0%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Buckeye
Median Income
$50,032
$94,188 vs $44,156/yr
Buckeye
Violent Crime
71% lower
166.8 vs 582.3 per 100k
Buckeye
Unemployment
3.5 pp lower
5.0% vs 8.5% unemployment
Buckeye
Summer Heat
24.0°F warmer
July avg high 106.5°F vs 82.5°F
Rochester
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 97.7 vs 100.0 (100 = US avg)
Rochester
Median Home Value
$230k less
$111,400 vs $341,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Buckeye, AZ | Rochester, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.0 | 97.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $341,700⚠ High | $111,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,597⚠ High | $995 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $94,188 ✓ Higher | $44,156 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.5 min⚠ High | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 14.2% ✓ Higher | 9.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 41 ✓ Safer | 155⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 44 ✓ Safer | 153⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 37 ✓ Safer | 157⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (72) | B (100) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.2:1 | 10.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.9% | 29.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.2% ✓ Higher | 83.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Litchfield Elementary District (4281) | ROCHESTER CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.1°F ✓ Warmer | 33.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 106.5°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.0" ✓ Drier | 35.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 102.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 95,042 | 210,992 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.7 ✓ Older | 32.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 85.3% ✓ Higher | 37.3% |
| Under 18 | 28.5% ✓ More | 21.8% |
| Over 65 | 12.9% ✓ More | 12.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Buckeye's cost of living index is 100.0 vs Rochester's 97.7 (US average = 100).
Rochester is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Buckeye leads 15 of 23 categories. Buckeye wins 15 and Rochester wins 8. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Buckeye to Rochester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($341,700 vs $111,400 median home), income ($94,188 vs $44,156), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Buckeye, AZ and Rochester, NY are about 1,998 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.